Angelin Tsachev, Executive Director of Bulgaria’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) said to be aware of the challenges of energy transformation and the role ESOs have to play to meet the 2030 targets.
“The main characteristics of the new market model are related to the decarbonisation of the economy, achieving a high share of renewable energy among generating capacity, providing opportunities for consumer participation in the electricity market, building a competitive energy market based on market principles,” he said during the international conference Green Transition – Solutions and Challenges for Bulgaria.
Mr Tsachev pointed out that the rapid growth of the installed capacity of RES presents the system operators with new technical tasks and noted that in just one year ESO has received applications for connection of 8,500 megawatts (MW) of new RES plants.
“The Electricity System Operator is actively looking for and introducing innovative solutions for reliable management of the electricity transmission system in the conditions of a growing share of renewable energy generation,” he underlined.
Furthermore, Mr Tsachev outlined the urgent tasks to be solved for the electricity transmission operators, aimed at providing effective models for the management of the electricity system with a growing share of production from renewable sources, as well as conditions for their connection through development, restructuring of the electricity infrastructure and construction of new facilities.
“In response to the great investor interest in the construction and connection of new RES capacities, ESO has developed an electronic map with up-to-date information on the operational opportunities for connection of producers and consumers of electricity,” said the Executive Director of ESO, announcing the company’s comprehensive service on design and construction of the connection facilities for the purpose of faster and more efficient commissioning of new sources of emission-free energy.
“In order to ensure predictability for the development of the network and the transmission capacity, ESO proposes changes in the Las on Renewable Energy to reduce the administrative burden for investors in new renewable capacities,” Angelin Tsachev concluded. “ESO is actively fulfilling the goals we have set for joining the European balancing platforms, strengthening the internal transmission network and interconnection, developing our own telecommunications network, digitalisation of substations for monitoring and remote control.”